PERRIS RACEWAY - California

Words and Pictures by Cary Cotterman

Perris Raceway is a rural track situated among rocky hills and fields about 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles. It is used primarily for practice, but a few meetings are run every year. What the venue lacks in spectator facilities, it makes up for in good racing lines. The circuit is approximately 200 meters long and has wide, slightly banked turns. The front straightaway has a barely perceptible uphill grade, and the back straight descends again toward the pits bend, but this topographical quirk doesn't affect the quality of competition.

On the day these photos were taken, March 16, 2008, an open meeting took place in which New Zealand's 16-year-old Ricky Wells rode brilliantly to victory. The last photo is of the first bend of the spectacular final, as Wells leads from the gate. The current U.S. Under-21 National Champion and holder of the Malaysian International Speedway Cup gained and lost the lead twice before blasting around the outside in the last turn and beating Nate Perkins by half a wheel at the finishing line.

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